Apparatus for compacting a refractory medium in a bung of chinaware



May 6, 1952 P 2,595,880

APPARATUS FOR COMPACTING A REFRACTORY MEDIUM IN A BUNG OF CHINAWARE Filed Dec. 18, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet l BUM" May 6, 1952 PASS 2,595,880

APPARATUS FOR COMPACTING A REFRACTORY MEDIUM IN A BUNG OF CHINAWARE Filed Dec. 18, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 6, 1952 PASS 2,595,880

APPARATUS FOR COMPACTING A REFRACTORY MEDIUM IN A BUNG OF CHINAWARE Filed Dec. 18, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented May 6, 1952 APPARATUS FOR COMPACTING A REFRAC- TORY MEDIUM IN A BUNG OF CHINAWARE Richard Henry Pass, Syracuse, N. Y., assignor to Onondaga Pottery Company, Syracuse, N. Y., a

corporation of New York Application December 18, 1950, Serial No. 201,407

8 Claims.

I This invention has to do with apparatus for packing a loose granulated or powdered refractory medium between the rims of pieces of unfired ceramic ware, such as plates, saucers, and the like, piled on top of one another in stack formation, which is commonly known as a hung. In the manufacture of American vitrified china, clay is formed on a plaster mold to the desired shape of the piece being produced and the formed piece of ware is allowed to dry on the plaster mold. The dried pieces of ware are known as green or unfired pieces. These pieces'are removed from the mold, fettled, finished and inspected, and then piled one upon the other to form a stack or bung of pieces about 8 or 10 inches in height. This stack of pieces of green ware is positioned on a pre-fired refractory setter or bottom support, and after this pile of ware, or bung, is properly prepared, the bung is placed in an oven or kiln for firing in the first or vitrifying fire.

Each piece in the bung is separated from the others and from the setter with a dusting of refractory powder to prevent the pieces from sticking together during the firing process which, to produce highly vitrified chinaware, requires the application of heat at about 2250 F. The ware is subjected to this high temperature for a length of time suificient to melt a large portion of the minerals comprising the clay mix from which the pieces were originally formed into a glass-like substance. Due to the fact that the pieces of Ware in the bung are subjected to this high temperature for a substantial length of time, the pieces become more or less softened or ductile and the rim portion of the pieces, unless properly supported, will sag due to the force of gravity.

During the process of firing vitrified ware, the ware shrinks about 30% volumetrically, or 10% linearly. Therefore, the spaces between the rims of the pieces also shrink a similar amount. For this reason, these spaces must be very uniformly packed with a material also capable ofshrinking a similar amount or, with a material like sand which will displace or fiow out of these shrinking spaces during the period of the firing in which shrinking occurs. Sand, or other flowable materials, leave the extreme periphery of the rims unsupported due to inherent characteristics of a fiowable granular material to come to rest at an angle from the vertical, the complement of which is called the angle of repose which is usually 45 to 60 from the horizontal. Accordingly, the use of a compactible material is indicated which stays in place at the extreme periphery of these spaces and will there support the extreme edge of plates resting thereon. No supporting material need be packed in these interstices between the rims of plates in a bung when manufacturing semivitrified ware, since the firing treatment is insufiicient to soften the materials in the ware to the extent that the pieces are unable to support themselves.

When firing vitrified china, a compactible refractory clay is chosen whose inherent shrinkage characteristic at the vitrifying temperature of the ware, plus the further compacting ability of the embedded clay between the rims due to its porosity, is capable of matching the shrinkage of the spaces between the rims. It is therefore desirable, in the production of high grade, high vitrified chinaware, to embed the bungs with refractory clay material in relatively fine, compactible, powdered form.

Various mechanisms for bedding bungs have been used. In these mechanisms, the bedding medium was discharged between the bung and a cylindrical casing or shell member encircling the bung known as a coddle.. The bung was then vibrated vertically, or axially, or an oscillatory motion was imparted to the bung. That is, movement or vibration of the bung was relied upon to work the bedding material in between the rims of the pieces of ware. Such mechanismshave been found suitable for embedding with sand which, more or less, flows in between the rims of the pieces of ware with the vibration of the bung. However, such mechanisms have been unsuitable for embedding with the clay refractory material which does not, by vibration of the bung, work in between the rims of the pieces of ware, and this is especially true where the rims are formed at a low angle, as in such pieces of ware as dinner plates. Another serious objection to such mechanisms in handling the clay refractory material is that these mechanisms result in a considerable variation in the density of the bedding material.

In the production of highly vitrified ware, variations in the density of the bedding material is very serious and is one of the chief causes of defective fired ware.

With these prior mechanisms, the density of the embedding material was found to vary considerably at different points between the bottom and the top of the bung, and also between the peripheral portions of the rims and the inner portions near the foot of the piece. The shrinkage of the clay refractory material is less where the density is greatest, and more where the density is least. Consequently, lack of uniformity in the density of the bedding material results in ununiform shrinkage with un-uniform support for the brims of the ware, permitting them to sag or warp out of shape, resulting in a defective piece of ware.

This invention has an object apparatus embodying a unique structural arrangement which functions to embed the rims of a bung of green ware with clay refractory material and with the density of the embedding material uniform throughout the spaces between the brims of the pieces of ware.

The invention has a further object apparatus of the type referred to embodying a structure which is economical to build and articularly simple to operate.

The invention consists in the novel features and in the combinations and constructions hereinafter set forth and claimed.

In describing this invention, reference is had to the accompanying drawings in which like characters designate corresponding parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an apparatus embodying my invention with a portion of the frame and a portion of the embedding casing broken away.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view looking to the left, Figure l, with portions of the frame broken away.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33, Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view taken on line 4--4, Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a top plan View of the apparatus.

Figure 6 is a view taken on line 6-6, Figure 2.

Figure '7 is a view taken on line 'I-'I, Figure 6.

The apparatus includes a suitable frame comprising four leg members I9, to the upper end of which there is secured a rectangular frame I I. As shown, the leg members I and the top frame II are formed of angle iron, or the like. A top plate I2 is secured to the member I I.

A shaft I3 is journalled vertically in a bearing member I4 secured to the under side of the top l2, and a bearing member I secured to a plate I6 mounted on supporting cross members H, see Figure 3. A pad or turn table I8 is fixed to the upper end of the shaft, and a spur gear I9 is fixed to the shaft intermediate the ends thereof. The shaft I3 and the turn table [8 form a support for a bung of ware consisting of a plurality of pieces having angular brims 29, the lowermost piece being positioned upon a setter 2| which, in turn, is placed upon the turn-table IS. The bung is maintained in proper stack formation by a conical member 23 placed upon the topmost piece of ware in the stack, this serving to properly weight thepieces of ware and to also direct the clay refractory material in the space between the bung and a cylindrical casing 24 encircling the bung and arranged in spaced relation thereto; The casing 24 is open at the top and bottom and capable of restraining the outward movement of a. flowable, or compactible, loose material.

The apparatus is operated by a motor 26 mounted on a vertically extending support 21 mounted on cross members 28. A jack shaft 29 is journalled in bearing brackets 30 and there is mounted on the shaft 29, intermediate the bearing brackets, a double sheave pulley 3|. A belt 34 operatively connects the motor with the pulley 3|, and a belt 35 is trainedover the second sheave of the pulley 3| and over a pulley 36 on the input shaft of a gear reduction 31 mounted upon the plate I6. A gear 39 is mounted upon the output shaft 49 of the gear reduction and is arranged in mesh with the gear I9 on the shaft I3. With this arrangement, rotation is imparted to the shaft I3 and to the bung of ware positioned thereon.

Th clay refractory bedding material may be directed or discharged about the bung within the casing by any convenient arrangement, such as the foot indicated in dotted outline at 44, Figure 1. Opposite side portions of the casing are simultaneously moved radially inwardly toward the casing and outwardly therefrom, this reciprocation being carried out at relatively high frequency, and during the reciprocation of opposite sides of the casing, the shaft I3 and the bung of Ware supported thereon are rotated. This action effects a compacting of the refractory material in between rims of the pieces of ware. Preferably, the casing is of cylindrical formation and formed of sheet resilient material, such as steel. Flange members 45 are mounted in pairs on opposite sides of the casing and are connected to vertically arranged links 46 by means of horizontally arranged links 41. The vertical links 46 are pivotally mounted intermediate their ends to the top plate I2, as on pins 48, the links depending through the top plate and being pivotally connected at their lower ends to rods 49, 59. The inner end of the rod 49 is connected to an eccentric strap 52 and in which there is mounted for rotation an annular member 53, Figure '7. The rod 56 is connected to an eccentric strap 54 encircling a member 55 similar to the member 53. These members 53, 55, are formed with a central rectangular aperture in which there is mounted for sliding movement a block 58 which is affixed to a shaft 59, as by a key 66, see Figure 7. The members 53, 55, are restrained against axial movement on the block 58 by plates 62, Figure 6, secured to the outer sides of the members 53, 55, as by screws 63 extending through the plates 62 and threading into the members 53, 55.

The members 53, 55, are adjustable transversely of the shaft 59 by screws 64 threaded into the block 58 with their outer ends engaging the end walls of the rectangular apertures in the members 53, 55. In this manner, the eccentricity of the periphery of the members 53, 55, may be adjusted controlling the amplitude of the movement of the rods 49, 59, and in turn controlling the amplitude of the movement of the opposite side portions of the casing 24, as will be apparent. The screws 64 are locked in adjusted position by retaining members 66 secured to the.

members 53, 55, as by screws 67. The eccentric cam is retained against axial movement on the shaft 59 by collars 68. The shaft 59 extends transversely of the frame and is journalled at its ends in bearing blocks "I6 mounted on the plate I6. The shaft is operatively connected with a variable speed unit II mounted on the plate 21, the output shaft of which is provided with a pulley I2 over which a belt 13 is trained, and also over a pulley mounted on the shaft 59. The input shaft of the unit II is operatively connected to the motor 26 by a belt I4.

The eccentric mechanism is adjusted so that the lower ends of the links 46 move outward simultaneously and the upper ends move inwardly, and vice-versa. With this arrangement, opposite side portions of the casing 24 are reciprocated toward and from the axis of the bung of the ware, moving the bedding material in between the rim 20 of the pieces of ware and compacting the material with uniform density as the bung is rotated. As will be apparent, both the frequency and the amplitude of this reciprocatory movement may be varied. Also, the connections between the links 41 and the flange members 45 may be varied vertically to vary the application of force applied on the opposite sides of the casing. To this end, .the flanges 45 are provided with holes 80, and the links 46 with corresponding holes 8|. The links 41 are connected to the flange members 45 and to the links 46 by pins 83, in one end of which there is pivotally mounted a retaining member 84 which, when moved in coaxial relation to the pin, permits the pins to be withdrawn forming a convenient arrangement for removing the casing after each bung has been embedded, and for moving the connections between the links 41, 46, and the flanges 45. The holes 80, 8|, are arranged to apply the reciprocating force from a point midway in the height of the casing 24 to a point approximately one-third the distance upwardly from the bottom thereof. It has been found that this adjustment is advantageous in embedding ware having rims of low angularity, and to produce the same density of compactness between the rims of plates throughout the entire height of the bung.

In some instances, the clay embedding material has a tendency to compact more quickly in the lower portion of the casing about the periphcry. of the bung support l8 and the setter 2|, and between the rims of the lower plates in the stack. In such instances, this affects the radial movement of the casing throughout the height thereof. However, by adjusting the links 41 in different ones of the holes 80, 8|, the desired movement of the casing can be obtained and the embedding material compacted with uniform density between all of the rims of the plates in the bung.

What I claim is:

1. Apparatus for compacting a loose refractory clay between the rims of pieces of green chinaware arranged in a bung comprising a suitable frame, a support for a bung of ware journalled in the frame for rotation about a vertical axis, a casing encircling said bung in spaced relation thereto to receive a quantity of said refractory clay between said bung and said casing, means operable to effect reciprocation of opposite side portions of said casing radially toward and from said bung, and means operable to effect relative rotation between said support and said casing during such reciprocation.

2. Apparatus for compacting a loose refractory clay between the rims of pieces of green chinaware arranged in a bung comprising a suitable frame, a support for a bung of ware journalled in the frame for rotation about a vertical axis, a casing encircling said bung in spaced relation thereto to receive a quantity of said refractory clay between the periphery of said bung and said casing, motion transmitting means detachably connected to opposite side portions of the casing and operable to simultaneously reciprocate said portions radially toward and from the axis of the bung, and means operable to effect relative rotation between said support and said casing during such reciprocation.

3. Apparatus for compacting a loose refractory clay between the rims of pieces of green chinaware arranged in a bung comprising a frame, a support for a bung of ware journalled in the frame for rotation about a vertical axis, a cylindrical casing formed of resilient sheet material encircling said bung in spaced relation thereto to receive a quantity of said refractory material between said bung and said casing, means operable to effect simultaneous reciprocation of opposite side portions of said casingradially toward and from said bung, and means operable to effect relative rotation between said support and said casing during such reciprocation.

4. Apparatus for compacting a loose refractory clay between the rims of pieces of green chinaware arranged in a bung comprising a frame, a support for a bung of ware J'ournalled in the frame for rotation about a vertical axis, a casing encircling said bung in spaced relation thereto to receive a quantity of said refractory clay between the bung and the casing, motion transmitting members detachably connected to opposite side portions of the casing at selected points along the axial length thereof and operable to reciprocate said portions simultaneously radially toward and from the axis of the bung, and means for effecting relative rotation between said support and said casing during such reciprocation.

5. Apparatus for compacting a loose refractory clay between the rims of pieces of green chinaware arranged in a bung comprising a frame, a support for a bung of ware journalled in the frame for rotation about a vertical axis, a vertically arranged cylindrical casing encircling said hung in spaced relation thereto to receive a quantity of said refractory clay between said bung and said casing, motion transmitting mechanism operable to effect reciprocation of opposite side portions of said casing radially toward and from said bung, said mechanism including means operable to vary the amplitude of such reciprocation, and means operable to effect relative rotation between said support and said casing during such reciprocation.

6. Apparatus for compacting a loose refractory clay between the rims of pieces of green chinaware arranged in a bung comprising a frame, a support for a bung of ware journalled in the frame for rotation about a vertical axis, a vertically arranged cylindrical casing formed of resilient sheet material encircling said bung in spaced relation thereto to receive a supply of said refractory clay between the periphery of said bung and said casing, a pair of links vertically arranged on opposite sides of the casing and being pivotally mounted to the frame intermediate their ends, an eccentric mechanism mounted in the frame and being operatively connected to the lower ends of said links and being operable to effect movement of the upper ends of said links simultaneously toward and from the bung, means connecting the upper ends of said links with the opposite side portions of the casing, and means operable to effect rotation of said support during reciprocation of the side portions of the casing.

7. Apparatus for compacting a loose refractory clay medium between the rims of pieces of green chinaware arranged in a bung comprising a suitable frame, a support for a bung of ware, a casing, motion transmitting means detachably connected to opposite side portions of the casing and supporting the same concentrically with said bung in spaced relation thereto to receive a quantity of said refractory medium, said motion transmitting means being operable to simultaneously move said opposedrside'portions 0f th e 'casingsradialiy towardlandiifrom the-axisiof-the 'bung,"=and means operable "to efie'ct zrelative ro'tation between :said support and said casing :during :su'eh zreciprocation.

'8. Apparatus for compacting 2a nloose r'efr'aetony clay medium between he :frims :of 'pieces iof green :chinaware arranged in a bung comprisih'g a frame, asuppo'rt-for arbun'gfof w'are, a manor easing :actuatingfmember's ipi-votall-ysmouzitezi ion the frame; a cylindri'cal casingeformed of resilient material, like ends of said actuating members being connected to opposite side :portions "of said casing and positioningthecasing about a -bungiof ware .ipositioned on said supportzand in spa'ce'd relation thereto to-receivea'quantity:of said"'c1a-y 8 retractonyxmedium "between the bang and the casing, .ipower 'operat'ed means co'nnebted to f said casingia'ctuatin'g members andidperable topsoil- REFERENCES CITED -Phe "following references are I of record in the file-of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2 4 1 9,330 Anderson 'Apr. 22 1-947 -$469,229 Gould May :3, i949 

